Today, Senator Coons announced that he will co-chair the bipartisan Senate Working Group on Malaria with Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. The goal of the Working Group is to raise awareness in Congress of global efforts to combat the spread and effects of malaria, in particular U.S. government efforts through agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Malaria is an infectious disease of the blood that is mostly spread through mosquitos. It is most prevalent in the developing world, with nine out of ten malaria deaths occurring in Africa. Chris was named Chair of the African Affairs Foreign Relations Subcommittee in February.
“During my time studying and working in Africa,” Chris said, “I witnessed first-hand the havoc that malaria has on villages, especially on women, children, and those most in need and susceptible. Three million people die yearly from this preventable disease. The best way to improve life expectancy and engage in effective prevention efforts is to empower communities and governments with the tools and resources they need to save the lives of their people.”
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